IAAPA Summit: Latin America, Caribbean 2026

A presentation on the operation of Royal Caribbean’s private destinations, including an overview and explanation of the island Perfect Day at CocoCay.

*Limited spots. Registration for this tour will open soon. 

Discover Perfect Day at CocoCay, the Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, designed with everything the guest needs for an unforgettable vacation day.

On this first stop of the cruise, after an educational session onboard, we'll experience the operation of this impressive island. Prepare your swimsuit! We'll have free time to enjoy its facilities.

*Limited spots. Registration will open soon.

Buses departs to Baha Bay.

Inspired by the natural beauty of The Bahamas, Baha Bay is designed to perfectly fuse relaxing island chill with exhilarating fun for the entire family. The luxe waterpark is directly adjacent to the Baha Mar resort.

Get inside this luxury beachfront waterpark in an exclusive EDUTour, with themed spots to learn about world-class operation, while discovering the wonders of Nassau!

Learn from the experts in luxury experiences! Get inspired and gain practical ideas you can apply to your park or attraction.

One mythical resort with five distinct hotels, over 40 restaurants, 3 Michelin starred chefs and of course, an incredible collection of experiences including pools, beaches, water attractions, other themed attractions and live entertainment.

Discover how this resort has positioned itself as one of the most recognized worldwide, as shared by the heads of its various departments: Bryan Banner (Vice President, Water Park Operations), Tazia Rutherford (Director, Dolphin Cay), and Kristen Johnson (Marine Education Officer). 

A session packed with learning and networking. And before going back to the cruise, enjoy the rest of the day in its first-class facilities!

*Limited Spots. Registration for this tour will open soon. 

*Limited spots. Registration for this tour will open soon.

The cruise industry has evolved to offer guests the best of every entertainment experience—borrowing ideas from the top theme parks and luxury resorts. Today, more and more developers are claiming they want their new destination to be “like a cruise ship on land.” In this session, attendees will hear from world-class design consultants and the operations director responsible for delivering Royal Caribbean’s top private destinations. Whether on land or at sea, their strategic planning starts and ends with creating a compelling guest experience. 

Leadership in the attractions industry is not built solely from strategy, but from day-to-day operations, decision-making under pressure, and the ability to create strong cultures that prioritize people and safety. In an environment defined by growth, constant change, and crisis scenarios, leaders face the challenge of evolving without losing focus on the guest experience and the well-being of their teams.

In this conference, Gina Claassen, ICAE, Vice President of Operations at Herschend, will share her inspiring career journey within the attractions industry—from working in ride operations and serving as an IAAPA Show Ambassador, to leading complex operations and safety strategies at the executive level. Through her story, Gina will illustrate how leadership is forged on the front lines, learning to manage teams, processes, and critical decisions from the operational foundation.

The session will explore how to support organizational growth and change while maintaining operational consistency, and how to build a safety culture that goes beyond protocols to become a shared value across the organization. Drawing from her experience in crisis management, risk management, and operations, Gina will address key lessons every leader should consider when preparing teams for complex and unexpected scenarios.

*Limited Spots. Registration for this tour will open soon.

*Limited spots. Registration for this tour will open soon.